PONTIAC -- The Michigan Bucks used a four-goal second-half flurry to turn a 0-0 game into a comfortable 4-0 win Tuesday in the first round of the Great Lakes Divisional playoffs against the Chicago Fire.

After earning good chances but failing to convert early, the Bucks connected at the 64:04 mark and added three more goals in 23 minutes to advance to Saturday and Sunday's Premier Development League Central Conference championship tournament in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

The Bucks created plenty of good offensive opportunities and avenged a 4-2 loss to the Fire last Wednesday as it kept its season alive Tuesday at Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

"We got a little frustrated last week," Bucks head coach Demir Muftari said. "Tonight we said... 'We're going to get the goal, and when we do, we're going to have opportunities to get more, and then don't allow the same thing that happened to us a week ago happen again.' "

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The Bucks couldn't convert their early opportunities, but struck first at the 64:04 mark when Dion Peters drilled a free kick into an upper corner of the net to make it 1-0.

About 11 minutes later, the Bucks pressured and Matt Walker's shot deflected in to give the Bucks a 2-0 lead.

Michigan struck again at the 80:20 mark on a Zach Steinberger shot from close to the net that was partially stopped by the goalkeeper but just out of reach to prevent from going in and the Bucks led 3-0.

Kenny Uzoigwe headed in a corner to complete the scoring at the 86:25 mark.

The Bucks had blown open a tight game and made a stand with their season on the line as they overpowered the Fire.

The Bucks, who finished 8-3-3 in the regular season en route to a second place finish in the Great Lakes division standings, will meet the host Thunder Bay Chill at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Chill's home arena.

If the Bucks can win, they'll return to the Central Conference title game, where they've lost each of the past three seasons.

Muftari said perhaps his team will thrive this season without the spotlight of being a favorite.

"We came, we took care of business, and we have as good a chance as anybody does," Muftari said. "We like our chances, we like our team and we're confident. Maybe we'll be under the radar."

The Bucks and Fire are too of the most successful teams in the PDL's history, and the game was tight early.

Michigan generated a few quality scoring chances, including an opportunity from Steinberger that was stopped just 1:20 into the game.

Steinberger had another chance 18:19 in on a give-and-go, but his shot was saved by a leaping goalkeeper.

The teams went into the half scoreless despite the Bucks getting the better chances in the first.

The Bucks generated some more opportunities in the second half before the goals.

If Michigan can get past Thunder Bay, it'll play in the conference title game at 6 p.m. Sunday in Thunder Bay.

The Fire was shorthanded Tuesday as it had no substitutes but came in winning four of its last six and needed to win its last game just to get into the playoffs as a No. 3 seed after finishing 6-8-0 in the regular season.

"The effort tonight was tremendous from our guys," Chicago head coach Mark Prizant said. "We felt like we hit an imaginary wall around the 65th minute, and I think you saw that."